Jews Protest In Washington Against Giving Up The Golan
Photos by Eli Yonah

 An urgent protest was staged last week in Washington D.C. in response to the meeting this past Wednesday and Thursday between Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and the Syrian Foreign Minister to sign away Israel’s control of the Golan Heights, and remove its 30,000 residents.

A cavalcade of vans mobilized by Danny Cohen (a former resident of Kiryat Arba now living in Brooklyn, who is working on issues related to shleimus ha'Aretz) together with several Jewish organizations from New York and the Baltimore area traveled overnight to alert Prime Minister Barak and President Clinton of the folly of relinquishing this territory to Syria.

The caravan was made up of over a dozen vans outfitted with giant posters proclaiming, “We will not move from the Golan!” and “The Golan is not for Sale!”

In the morning, Secret Service agents and park police addressed the group saying, “You have a right to free speech and may demonstrate peacefully here.” While the vans circled the Capitol and White House in view of television cameras reporting the Barak visit, passengers of the vans fanned out in front of the White House with signs and bumper stickers that read “No US Troops on the Golan” and “The Land of Israel: G-d’s Gift to the Jews.” The demonstration was peaceful and well organized, receiving wide media coverage including major television stations in Eretz Yisroel.

The protest represented a number of diverse organizations advocating the safety of the Holy Land. Unanimously, they objected to Prime Minister Barak’s meeting with the Syrians with his intention of surrendering vital territories of Eretz Yisroel. It has been reported that Prime Minister Barak is willing to forsake territories essential for the security of the Jews as well as expelling 30,000 Jewish residents from the Golan Heights region, for only a promise of peace. It is a historical fact, the Syrians can’t be trusted and surrendering the high ground from which Syria used to shell Israeli towns on a daily basis, puts everyone there in mortal danger. In addition, relinquishing the Golan would make tens of thousands homeless and the panic and uncertainty of living on such a hair trigger border would drive hundreds and thousands of citizens out of the region.

Rabbi Aryeh Prager, a demonstrator, explained his concerns, “The Lubavitcher Rebbe has repeatedly warned that giving away the Golan or any portion of territory puts Eretz Yisroel in danger. Therefore such a move is against Jewish Law. This is not only a religious issue but a matter of life and death; the safety and security of millions of Jews in Eretz Yisroel. Many Jews today have lost faith in the promises for peace made by the politicians. The message now is to put our faith in the coming of Moshiach, the true leader of the Jewish people and all the world.”

A clear message is gaining momentum: Jews have always been – continue to be – for peace. But we are looking for true peace. Giving land to terrorists and dictators of rogue governments, as history has always shown in similar situations, will not bring peace, but rather, will only hasten war G-d forbid, while giving the enemy a decide advantage. The people of Eretz Yisroel want to live in peace, not rest in peace, and in this regard the Golan Heights makes a big difference.

For more information visit www.TruePeace.org. For all rabbis, synagogues, Chabad House directors, there is a video describing the vital security needs of Eretz Yisroel from a strategic point of view to maintain possession of the Golan and all territories under its sovereignty. If you are interested in obtaining a copy please write “Eyes Upon the Land” 383 Kingston Ave. PO Box 352, Brooklyn, NY 11213.  On your institution letterhead, include your name, address, telephone number and e-mail address.  Specify language; English Hebrew, Russian.